This week’s assassination attempt on Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the September 21, 2024 Edo State governorship elections, is a matter of public outrage and concern. On July 18, 2024, Senator Okpebholo narrowly escaped death when gunmen ambushed his convoy at Benin Airport. The attack resulted in the tragic death of Police Inspector Onu Ako, who was part of Okpebholo’s security detail.
This incident raises critical questions: Who is afraid of Senator Monday Okpebholo? Who wants him dead? As the Edo state governorship elections draw near, why is Senator Okpebholo a target? How did armed thugs manage to control the Airport Road for nearly an hour, shooting freely? What message are those who killed Inspector Ako sending to Edo APC governorship candidate? How has the Benin Airport become so insecure and porous?”
The Edo APC has already demanded an investigation into the massive security failure that allowed the assassination attempt to occur. According to Comrade Orobosa Omo-Ojo JP, Director of Publicity for the APC Edo Governorship Campaign Council, the attack on Senator Okpebholo was a deliberate and unprovoked act of political violence.
Omo-Ojo stated that the gunmen, identified by security agents as representatives of the opposition party, ambushed Okpebholo’s convoy as it was leaving the airport. This incident resulted in the death of the Police Inspector and injuries to hundreds of APC members who were part of the peaceful procession from the airport to the APC Secretariat.
The party has also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, and the State Security Service to investigate the assassination attempt and bring the culprits to justice. It emphasized the need to rein in state-sponsored criminals whose objective is to make the Edo political landscape unsafe.
The party stressed that no amount of violent desperation would prevent it from providing leadership for the determined and patriotic forces working to take back Edo State and reset it on the path of peace and prosperity.
Apparently unperturbed by the sad development, the Edo State Government which is led by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP choose to issue a warning to the State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, who was this week reinstated by a Federal High Court. According to the statement released by Chris Osa Nehikhare, Hon. Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Shaibu’s actions have resulted in wanton destruction and mayhem.
The state government advised Mr Shaibu to desist from violence, reminding him that he is not above the law and will face consequences for his actions. The government however reassured the public that it would continue to deploy the state’s resources to restore and maintain law and order.
On his part, the Edo State Police Command expressed shock over the incident and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. In a press release, the police confirmed that the shooting occurred on July 18, 2024, at around 1300 hours when Senator Monday Okpebholo and Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu arrived at Benin Airport from Abuja.
As their supporters welcomed them, the police said political thugs emerged and started shooting sporadically. Inspector Onu Ako, a personnel of No. 45 Police Mobile Force Abuja attached to Senator Okpebholo, was fatally wounded in the attack. The police assured the public that they are in firm control of the security situation in the state and are committed to protecting the lives and property of law-abiding citizens.
Nevertheless, the assassination attempt on Senator Okpebholo highlights the emerging dangerous and volatile nature of Edo State’s political environment. The fact that armed thugs were able to take control of Airport Road and shoot freely for nearly an hour raises serious questions about the state of security in the state capital.
This incident is a wake up call for comprehensive electoral reforms and stronger mechanisms to protect candidates in elections and their supporters. The use of violence as a political tool is a dangerous precedent that threatens the foundations of democracy in Edo State and Nigeria as a whole.
The message sent by Senator Okpebholo’s attackers is clear: they are willing to use lethal force to intimidate and eliminate their political opponents. This act of violence is not just an attack on Senator Okpebholo but an assault on democracy in Edo state. It aims to create an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, undermine the confidence of APC supporters and discourage active political participation.
This is why the APC’s call for a thorough investigation and for those responsible to be brought to justice is a crucial step that hopefully will address this threat and ensuring the safety of all political actors in Edo State.
The insecurity at Benin Airport, as highlighted by this incident, however raises serious concerns about the state of law and order in Edo State. The ease with which armed thugs could access the airport and carry out their attack suggests a troubling level of vulnerability. This situation calls for immediate action to reinforce security measures at critical points of entry and ensure that such breaches do not recur.
The assassination attempt on Senator Okpebholo is a grim reminder of the high stakes involved in Nigerian politics. It underscores the urgent need for comprehensive electoral reforms and stronger mechanisms to protect political candidates and their supporters. The use of violence as a political tool is a dangerous precedent that threatens the foundations of democracy.